Automatic lighting and dispensing device



Feb. 12, 1935. ETT 1,990,856

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1953 -JLLTLI"Patented F eb. 12,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,990,856 AUTOMATIC LIGHTING AND DISPENSINGDEVICE Albert Disbrow Claa'ntt, D. Tit

of one-half to C. see G. Claggett. Denve Application February 2,

Denver, Colo., assignor us and one-half to Horr, 0010.

193:, Serial No. cs4,9os

4 Claims, (01. 3175-86) a device for holding,

lighting cigarettes, and while more particularly designed for use inautomobiles and other automotive limited to this use as merals refer tolike parts in valuable as adesk or home The principal Another object ofthe a .device of this chara light a cigarette without the vices.

A further object is to that the cigarettes placed therein.

Other objects and detail construction of designed for simplicity,

These will become more lowing description.

vehicles, it -is not of course it would also be found dispenser.

invention is to provide cter which will quickly use of suction de-' soconstruct the device canbe readily and easily advantages reside in thethe invention, which is economy, and efliciency. apparent from the fol-In the following detailed description of the invention reference is h adto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like nuall viewsof the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a face view of ing and lighting device.

plate is partially broken position of the cigarettes the improveddispens- In this view the cover away to illustrate the therein.

Fig. 2 is a left side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof with the cover plate partially brokenaway.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 5, with thecover plate in place.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55, Fig.

4, with the cover plate removed.

The invention comprises: a frame 10 pref-.

erably stamped from is formed with .two ing from its sheet metal. Theframe 10 vertical flanges 11 projectrear to contact with and space thedevice from any suitable supporting sursupporting surface.

14 is provided with suitable holes, through which access may be had tothe holes 12 and 13 in the frame 10 as shown in Fig. 5. A pair of ears16 jection 17' on the frame. 4

It will be noted that this provides a flexible ge' construction for theholder and, since the 10 ears are positioned adjacent the top, allowsthe bottom of the holder tain it in place.

The cigarettes are supported in the holder by means of a forwardlyprojecting shelf 18 20 formed on the frame.

trough 23 is secured adjacent its one extremity on the shaft 21 sothatmovement of the ha1 1-.

27 to close the circuit is grounded when in Operation Let us assume theholder 14 iscigarettes, such as indicated at'30. The user grasps theholder between the thumb and fingers and draws it outwardly. This causesthe lower extremity of the holder to swing over the trough member 23, asshown in broken line in 55 filled with Fig. 2, so as to deposit thelowermost cigarette therein. The spring 17 then swings the holder backto the normal position over the shelf 18. The handle 22 is now turnedvertically, to the broken line position of Fig. 1. This allows thedelivered cigarette to slide from the trough 23 to a vertical positionon the heating element 25 where it rests by gravity. The upward movementof the handle 22 closes the electrical circuit between the lip 28 andthe spring 2'7 so that the element heats sufiiciently to ignite thetobacco at the lower end of the cigarette.

It will be noted that the bottom of the shield 19 is open around theheating element and is curved about the cigarette, as shown by thecurved portion 31. This results in a stack action, that is, the heatingelement 25 heats the air within the curved portion 31 causing it to risetherein and draw fresh air in through the open bottom. This aircirculation has been found to be very effective in immediately ignit ingthe tobacco.

It .will also be noted that the forward edge of the trough member 23 isrelatively wide so that the user can not conveniently reach thecigarette while the trough is in the vertical position. He, therefor,must turn the trough member back to the horizontal position beforeremoving the cigarette. This requires the user to open the electricalcircuit before he can reach the cigarette and reduces the liability ofaccidental and damaging over heating. When the cigarettes are exhausted,it is only necessary to slide the cover plate 29 upwardly to remove it.A new pile of cigarettes can then be placed behind the retaining flanges15 of the holder 12..

While a specific form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is desired tobe understood that the same may bevaried, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

1. A device for dispensing and lighting cigarettes comprising: a framemember extending first downward to form a vertical back portion, thenceforwardly to form a shelf, thence again downward to form a depending.portion; an open bottomed container hinged adjacent the top of saidback portion and normally lying thereagainst and terminating above saidshelf portion; a shield secured to and extending forwardly from saiddepending portion; a shaft extending through said shield and saiddepending portion; a receiving trough secured at its one extremity onsaid shaft and normally lying horizontal below said shelf portion; ahandle secured on said shaft exteriorally of said shield; and a heatingelement carried by said depending portion within said shield below theshaft extremity of said trough.

2. A device for dispensing and lighting cigarettes comprising: aframemember extending first downward to form a vertical back portion,

thence forwardly to form a shelf, thence again downward to form adepending portion, an open bottomed container hinged adjacent the top ofsaid back portion and normally lying thereagainst andterminating abovesaid shelf portion; a shield secured to and extending, forwardly fromsaid depending portion; a shaft extending through said shield and saiddepending portion; a receiving trough secured at its one extremity onsaid shaft and normally lying horizontal below said shelf portion; ahandle secured on said shaft exteriorally of said shield;

a heating element carried by said depending portion within said shieldbelow the shaft extremity of said trough; and a vertical, openbottomedenclosure formed in said shield about said heating element to create avertical current of air thereby.

3. A device for dispensing and lighting cigarettes comprising: a framemember extending first downwardly to form a vertical back portion thenceforwardly to form a shelf, thence again downward to form a dependingportion; an open bottomed container hinged adjacent the top of said backportion and normally lying thereagainst and terminating above said shelfportion; a shield secured to and extending forwardly from said dependingportion; a shaft extending through said shield and said dependingportion; a receiving trough secured at its one extremity on said shaftand normally ly-, ing horizontal below said shelf portion; a handlesecured on said shaft exteriorally of said shield; an insulating blocksupported by said depending portion within said shield; a heatingelement carried on said block below the shaft extremity of said trough;an electric contact for said heating element projecting upwardly fromsaid block so as to be contacted by said trough when the latter isturned toward the vertical position.

4. A device for dispensing and lighting cigarettes comprising: a framemember extending first downward to form a vertical back portion, thenceforwardly to form a shelf, thence again downward to form a dependingportion; a shield secured to and'extending forwardly from said dependingportion; a shaft extending through said shield and said dependingportion; a receiving trough secured at its one extremity on said shaftand normally lying horizontal below said shelf portion; a handle securedon said shaft exteriorally of said shield; and a heating element carriedby said depending portion within said shield below the shaft extremityof said trough; a holder; ears formed on said holder projecting throughslots adjacent the top of the back portion of said frame member; ahooked projection on the back of said portion; and a spring memberextending between said ears and over said hooked projection 'so as tonormally hold said holder against said frame member and yet allow it tobe swung forwardly over said trough member.

ALBERT D. CLAGGET'I.

